Consumer Rights in Bangladesh- the Present Scenario
1.0 Consumer Rights in Bangladesh- The Present Scenario
1.1 Background Summary:
In the backdrop of rapid development and globalization of our economy it is essential that Bangladesh should have a pragmatic consumer policy to ensure consumer right and to protect them from unfair business practice. There is a popular saying is Market Economy that “Consumers are the King” but is the context of Bangladesh can we say the same?
In Bangladesh, peoples are now live in the state of insecurity as well as uncertainty. Two fold dangers confronting the urban consumers are under consumption and health hazards arising out of price spiral, lucrative advertising, packing the poor quality products with attractive covers and massive adulteration. The onslaught of criminalization in commercial operations continued to jeopardize the rights of the consumers in the recent past. Added to it many a fraud practice unnoticed by the authorities went against public safety and security. Even now, the ordinary consumers have much less access to the concerned authorities and the latter have been found to be inefficient-not equal to the task in the face of manipulation of the market by the criminal; syndicate.
However, social movement in consumer’s regime puts consumerism first. ‘Consumers Voice’ is at the heart of such movement. Of course, belatedly, the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) organized such movement through awareness buildings campaigns, conferences, rallies and publications. This is in response to the development of consumerism at the global level.
1.2 Statement of the Problem:
Like other rights, consumer rights remain most ignored in Bangladesh for lack of awareness many people do not check the manufacturing and expiry dates or whether or not the ingredients used in foodstuff meet the standards.
The problem arises in the form of adulteration of food in the Dhaka city (like using formalin, carbide, food color etc). This causes serious as well as harmful
1.1 Background Summary:
In the backdrop of rapid development and globalization of our economy it is essential that Bangladesh should have a pragmatic consumer policy to ensure consumer right and to protect them from unfair business practice. There is a popular saying is Market Economy that “Consumers are the King” but is the context of Bangladesh can we say the same?
In Bangladesh, peoples are now live in the state of insecurity as well as uncertainty. Two fold dangers confronting the urban consumers are under consumption and health hazards arising out of price spiral, lucrative advertising, packing the poor quality products with attractive covers and massive adulteration. The onslaught of criminalization in commercial operations continued to jeopardize the rights of the consumers in the recent past. Added to it many a fraud practice unnoticed by the authorities went against public safety and security. Even now, the ordinary consumers have much less access to the concerned authorities and the latter have been found to be inefficient-not equal to the task in the face of manipulation of the market by the criminal; syndicate.
However, social movement in consumer’s regime puts consumerism first. ‘Consumers Voice’ is at the heart of such movement. Of course, belatedly, the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) organized such movement through awareness buildings campaigns, conferences, rallies and publications. This is in response to the development of consumerism at the global level.
1.2 Statement of the Problem:
Like other rights, consumer rights remain most ignored in Bangladesh for lack of awareness many people do not check the manufacturing and expiry dates or whether or not the ingredients used in foodstuff meet the standards.
The problem arises in the form of adulteration of food in the Dhaka city (like using formalin, carbide, food color etc). This causes serious as well as harmful
References: 1. Consumer Education: A Resource Book. by Anwar Fazal and Bishan Singh: Malaysia, 1991, 115 p 2 by Koh Tsu Koon and Loke Liok Ee: Malaysia. 1977, 97 p 3 4. Consumer Education Guidelines for Teachers: A Handbook of Consumer Education Consumers’ Association of Penang, Penang, 1972, 33 p 5 6. Consumers Lifelines – A Resource Book for Consumer Journalists. by Louise Crosby and Anwar Fazal: Malaysia, 1991, 204 p 7